Panama Ponders Light Rail Plan

International Railway Journal, Nov, 2000

PUBLIC transport authorities in Panama were last month presented with a viability study by French and local consultants for a two-line light rail system. Light rail construction works out at about $US 12 million/km compared with $US 100 million/km for a heavy metro.

Both lines would start at Plaza 5 de Mayo, the first running 17km to Pedregal and the se6cond 13km to San Isidro. A 1.3km extension from Plaza 5 de Mayo to Plaza de la Independencia is under consideration. The system would be designed for passenger flows of between 12,000 and 18,000/hour, even though peak requirements at present require capacity for only 9000 passengers/hour.